Aeromuffler



Sept. 124, 1939. M. E. RUTHERFORD AEROMUFFLER Filed Nov. 2, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 gmc/who@ Sept. 12, 1939.

M. E. RUTHERFORD AEROMUFFLBR Filed Nov. 2, 193B 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Sept. 12, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AEROMUFFLER ilene, Tex.

Application November 2, 1938, Serial No. 238,471

8 Claims.

'I'his invention relates to internal combustion engines, and more particularly to an improved muffler for use with an engine of this type.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved mufller for an internal combustion engine which is so constructed as to eliminate the back pressure normally caused by conventional mufllers.

Another object of this invention is to provide a muffler of this ykind which includes a pair of rotary elements actuated by the flow of gases therethrough which act to form a substantial vacuum in order to relieve the back pressure on the exhaust side of the engine, thereby facilitating the removal of the exhaust gases and substantially increasing the power of the engine.

A further object of this invention is to provide a muffler which is adapted to eliminate the noise of the exhaust due to the sudden expansion of the exhaust gases in the atmosphere.

Embodying the foregoing aims essentially and to others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more specically referred to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein are shown embodiments of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a detail side elevation of a muffler constructed according to an embodiment of this invention,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a detail end elevation of the device at the intake end thereof,

Figure 4 is a detail end elevation at the discharge end 0f the device,

Figure 5 is a sectional View taken on the line 5-5 of Figure l,

Figure 6 is a sectional View taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 1,

Figure 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal section partly in detail of a modiiled form of this device, and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view partly in detail of a further modification of this device.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral I0 designates generally a cylindrical housing which at one end thereof is provided with an annular flange I3. The opposite end of the housing I0 is provided with a frustro-conical member I terminating in a flange I2 at the outer or smaller end thereof. The flange I2 is adapted to abut against the inner wall I4 of a fan housing I5. The fan housing I5 is provided with an axially disposed intake opening I6 communicating with the outlet member |I. The fan housing I5 is 5 provided with a disc shaped head or plate II having a centrally disposed cylindrical bushing I8.

A head I9 is secured as by bolts 20 to the flange I3, and this head I9 is provided with an intake 10 nipple 2| communicating with the housing Il). The nipple 2| is adapted to be connected to the exhaust side of an internal combustion engine so that the exhaust gases from the engine will discharge through the nipple 2| into the housing 15 I0. The head I9 is provided with a centrally disposed cylindrical bushing 22, and the head I9 at the center thereof is provided with an opening 23 through which a shaft 24 extends. The shaft 24 extends axially through the housing I6, and 20 one end thereof engages in the bushing 22. The shaft 24 at one end thereof is reduced as at 25, and the inner race 26 of an anti-friction bearing engages the reduced shaft portion A The outer race 21 of the anti-friction bearing engages the 25 inner surface of the bushing or bearing member 22.

A packing 28 is disposed in the bushing 22 between the anti-friction bearing and the wall of the head I9, and a thrust plate 29 is interposed 30 between the outer end of the packing 28 and the bearing member comprising the races 26 and 21.

A lubricating element 30 is secured to the bush.- ing 22 and provides a means whereby a lubricating means in the form of oil or grease may be forced into the bushing 22 for lubricating the bearing elements comprising the races 26 and 2'I and the packing 28. A cap 3| is threaded onto the outer end of the bushing 22 so that the lubricating means may be retained in the bushing and so that the shaft 24 may be released from the head I9. The shaft 24 may be released from the head I9 by removal of the cap 3| and removal of the anti-friction bearing from the reduced portion 25 of the shaft 24. 45

The opposite or outer end of the shaft 24 is provided with a reduced portion 32 about which an inner race member 33 engages. An outer race member 34 is disposed in the bushing I8, and anti-friction members such as balls 35 or the 50 like are interposed between the two race members 33 and 34. Balls 36 are interposed between the two race members 26 and 21. A packing 37 is disposed in the bushing I8 and a thrust plate 38 is interposed between the packing 31 and the 55 A anti-friction bearing comprising the race members and SI and the balls 35. The head I1 of the fan housing l5 is provided with an opening 39 through which the shaft 24 extends. A lubricating fitting fl@ is secured to the bushing lil and provides a means for discharging a lubrieating means interiorly of the bushing I8. The outer end of the bushing i8 is closed by means of a cap il which is threaded onto the bushing I8.

The shaft 2l?- has mounted. ther-ecn a plurality of blade members generally designated as 42 which are disposed in longitudinally spaced apart relation on the shaft 24 in the housing lll. These blade members i2 comprise impellers and are formed by securing blad-es 113 to a hub 4A. The hub (l5 engages the shaft 2li and is secured thereto as by a set screw l5 or like fastening means. A ring i6 is secured to the blades 43 and provides a reinforcing means to prevent bending of the blades 43. The impellers 42 are so positioned along the length of the shaft 24 that the force or movement of the exhaust gases will strike the impellers ft2 and cause the shaft 2d to be rotated thereby. rI'he exhaust gases will move longitudinally of the housing i5 entering the frustroconical member l l and discharging through the opening ill into the fan housing i5. The fan housing l5 is provided with a plurality of blades @39 which are secured to a hub 48 fixed as by a set screw Q-zl to the shaft 24.

When the exhaust gases enter the housing l5 they will effect rotation of the fan comprising the blades 4l and the hub The fan housing l5 is provided with a discharge nipple 5d shown in greater detail in Figure 6, and this discharge member 5d is disposed on a tangent with respect tc the fan comprising the blades il and the hub 43. rIhe discharge member 5@ may be connected to a suitable carry-off pipe or the like so that the exhaust gases may be carried to a suitable point for discharge into the atmosphere.

ln Figure 7 there is disclosed a slightly modified form of this device wherein the impeller shaft 2da extends through an opening 5l provided in the cap Sla. The shaft 24a extends through the head lila which is similar to the head i9, and a bushing 22d is carried by the head ld. The shaft Ella is provided with a relatively long reduced portion 25a, and a pulley or grooved wheel 52 has the hub 53 thereof secured as by a key 5!! or like fastening means to the shaft extension 25a. An anti-friction bearing comprising race members 25a, Ela, and balls 36 engage about the reduced portion 25a, and a packing 28a similar to the packing 28 is positioned in the bushing 22a. A thrust pl-ate ita is interposed between the packing 23a and the anti-friction bearing. The grooved pulley or wheel 52 is provided so that the shaft Mw may be positively rotated by means of a belt engageabl-e with a driving pulley mounted on a shaft rotated by the engine proper.

With a construction of this kind the operation of the engine will effect rotation of the shaft Ella with the impellers mounted thereon so that a suction will be created in the muffler housing 'associated with the head lila. It will, of course, be understood that if desired the driven member 52 may be in the form of a gear or sprocket depending upon the conditions existing with respect to a particular engine,

ln Figure 8 there is disclosed a further driving means or modification wherein the shaft 2Gb is provided with a reduced extension 32h and the shaft Zlib extends through a head. or plate l'lb having a bushing lb. An anti-friction bearing comprising inner and outer race members 33h and 3M) engage about the extension 32h and are positioned in the bushing i813. Balls 35h are interposed between the two race members 3311 and Mb. A packing member S'lb is positioned in the bushing E81) and a thrust plate 38D is interposed between the outer end of the packing 31h and the anti-friction bearing.

A cap Mb having an axial opening 55 is threaded onto the bushing feb, and the reduced shaft extension 32D extends through the opening 55. A propeller 55 is xed as by a key 51 or other suitable fastening means to the shaft extension 32h, and this propeller 56 is adapted to be used where the muffler secured to the head l'lb` is used with an airplane engine where the force of movement of the air will provide the necessary power to drive the propellor 55.

In the use and operation of this device where the muffler lll is connected to a motor vehicle, the exhaust side of the engine is connected to the intake nipple 2l. rIhe exhaust gases will enter the muffler l5 and upon striking the impellers d2 will effect rotation of the impellers The exhaust gases will expand in the housing l5 and will move longitudinally through the housing le and be discharged through the opening l5 into the fan housing i5.

The movement of the gases in the fan housing l5 will cause rotation of the fan i5 in addition to the rotation of the fan i5 being effected by the rotation of the shaft M under the action of the impellers 42. The fan comprising the blades 41 will create a substantial suction through the housing ID so that the exhaust gases will be prevented from forming a back pressure on the exhaust side of the internal combustion engine. In this manner the engine will run more smoothly than heretofore, and as the back pressure will be eliminated, an increased power will be effected and a reductionin the gas or fuel consumption will also be effected.

Vlhere it is possible to provide a positive drive for the shaft 24, a driving member such as 52 may be secured thereto and connected to a suitable rotating part of the vehicle or engine. Where this is done, there will be a positive withdrawal of the exhaust gases and a substantial vacuum will be created on the exhaust side of the internal combustion engine which will assist in the withdrawal of the exhaust gases from the combustion chambers of the engine.

Where the muffler is attached to an airplane engine, the muffler may have the shaft 24h thereof positively rotated by an air driven propeller such as 56, and where this is done, a substantial vacuum will be created on the exhaust side of the engine. Where the device is used with an airplane engine, the muffler will substantially eli1ninate the noise of the exhaust gases so that where the airplane is used in warfare the engine cannot readily be detected by the noise of the exhaust gases as is the case with airplane engines at present in use.

This muffler may be constructed in the form of an attachment for a conventional internal combustion engine, and may be secured to the internal combustion engine without disturbing the present parts of the engine. The device can be constructed at a relatively small cost, and will last indefinitely,

What I claim is:

1. An exhaust muffler comprising a cylindrical housing having an intake at one end thereof, and

an outlet at the other end thereof, a shaft journalled axially of said housing, a plurality 2. An exhaust muffier comprising a cylindrical housing having an intake at one end thereof, a cone-shaped outlet at the other end of said housing, a shaft journalled axially of said housing, a plurality of impeller members fixed to said shaft, a fan housing communicating at the intake side thereof with said outlet, and a. fan member in said fan housing and fixed to said shaft.

3. An exhaust muffler comprising a cylindrical housing having an intake at one end thereof, a substantially frustro-conical member at the other end of said housing, a shaft journalled axially of said housing and said frustro-conical member, a plurality of impeller members fixed to said shaft in said housing, a fan housing communicating at the intake side thereof with the reduced end of said frustro-conical member, and a fan member in said fan housing fixed to said shaft.

4. An exhaust muffler comprising a cylindrical housing having an intake at one end thereof, a substantially frustro-conical member at the other end of said housing, a shaft journalled axially of said housing and said frustro-conical member7 a plurality of impeller members fixed to said shaft in said housing, a fan housing communicating at the intake side thereof With the reduced end of said frustro-conical member, a fan member in 5. An exhaust muffler comprising a cylindrical housing having an intake at one end thereof and an outlet at the other end thereof, a shaft journalled axially of said housing, a plurality of impeller members fixed to said shaft in said housing, a fan housing communicating at the intake side thereof with said outlet, a fan member in said fan housing fixed to said shaft, said shaft at one end projecting exteriorly of said housing, and a grooved pulley fixed to said extended end of said 3 shaft and adapted to have an endless belt trained thereover for forcibly driving said shaft.

6. An exhaust muffler comprising a cylindrical housing having an intake at one end thereof and an outlet at the other end thereof, a shaft journalled axially of said housing, a plurality of impeller members fixed to said shaft, a fan housing communicating at the intake side thereof with said outlet, an extension integral with one end of said shaft and projecting exteriorly of said housing, and a propeller fixed to said extension.

7. An exhaust muffler comprising a cylindrical housing having an intake at one end thereof and an outlet at the other end thereof, a shaft disposed axially of said housing, a head at one end inferiorly of said bushing, anti-friction bearing means engaging said one end of said shaft and said bushing to rotatably of said shaft in said head, packing means about said shaft between said anti-friction means and 8. An exhaust muiiier comprising a cylindrical housing having an intake at one end thereof and an outlet at the other end thereof, a shaft in said housing, a plurality of propeller members fixed to said shaft, a fan housing communicating at the intake side thereof with said outlet, a fan member fixed to said shaft in said fan housing, a cylindrical bushing at one end of said first housing disposed about one end of said shaft, a second cylindrical bushing fixed to said fan housing and engaging about the opposite end of said shaft, anti-friction means in said first bushing, antifriction means in said second bushing, and a cap threadably engaging said bushings.

MARVIN E. RU'I'HERFORD. 

